Nathaniel Hackett has been named the 18th head coach in Denver Broncos history.
According to individuals familiar with the issue, the Broncos are close to concluding a contract with Hackett to make him their new head coach, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Hackett's appointment is the first of nine head coaching vacancies that will be filled this offseason.
This time, the offensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers was a popular contender. On Wednesday night, talks with Denver heated up as Hackett prepared to interview for the Jacksonville Jaguars coaching position on Thursday. The Broncos made it impossible for the interview to take place.
Hackett, 42, has spent the last three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers, where he helped Aaron Rodgers earn back-to-back MVP awards.
Since Hackett took over as head coach in 2019, the Packers have the second-most offensive touchdowns (160) and the fewest turnovers (37) in the NFL.
While Rodgers and Matt LaFleur have gotten the most of the credit for Green Bay's explosive offense outside the Packers' facilities, both have praised Hackett's work in preparing the club each week.
Green Bay is hoping to replace the vacancy as offensive coordinator by promoting from within, with quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy a leading contender.
Meanwhile, Denver will try to assemble a team around Hackett. According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Los Angeles Rams pass game coordinator Ejiro Evero is a major candidate for defensive coordinator. According to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport, the Broncos will also want to interview Green Bay's run game coordinator, Adam Stenavich, for the position of offensive coordinator.
Hackett, a former linebacker at UC Davis, began his coaching career as a collegiate assistant before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an offensive quality control coach in 2006. After returning to Syracuse to serve as the passing game coach and offensive coordinator, Hackett was hired as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator by Doug Marrone.
Hackett was the Bills' offensive coordinator for two seasons before moving to Jacksonville to work with Marrone as the quarterbacks coach (2015-2016) and then as the coordinator after Marrone was appointed to head coach (2016-2018).
Hackett did not call plays as the offensive coordinator in Green Bay, but he is known for being imaginative and enthusiastic, as well as his ability to connect with players, which will serve him well as a first-time head coach.
Rodgers has backed Hackett for head coaching roles on several occasions. A new wave of Rodgers-to-Denver speculations will be sparked by the link between the new coach and the QB. The Broncos make a lot of sense as a landing location if the MVP quarterback decides to push his way out of Green Bay with a trade demand. Denver boasts a playoff-caliber roster, with a plethora of offensive weapons and a developing secondary that is in desperate need of a quarterback.
The defense remained one of the strongest in the NFL under head coach Vic Fangio, but the offense struggled to get off the ground owing to inconsistency in quarterback performance. Hackett's job as general manager George Paton's first coaching hire will be to breathe new life into the offense, regardless of who the next quarterback is.
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